Appucation



E. S. COFFMAN.

DOOR CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION man FEB. 12. 1.913. nem-:win AUG. 22, 1919.

Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

5.18. COFFMAN. l

DOOR CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Y APPUCATION FILED FEB. l2, 1913. RENEWED AUG. 22, |919. 1,334,081.

Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .C /fww/ UNITED sTATns PATENT onnicn.

EDWARD S. COFFMAN, OF CLIFTON FORGE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK E. STEBBINS,

OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Doon-CONTRQLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1e, 192e.

Application led February 12, 1913, Serial'No. 747,933. Renewed August 22, 1919.` Serial No. 319,252'. l

To all 'whom z't 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWARDS. COFFMAN, a citizen ci the United States, residing at Clifton Forge, in the county oi Alleghany and State of Virginia, havey invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a speciiication.

The invention relates to door controlling devices, and is in part a continuation of my prior applications filed November 6, 1909, No. 525,602, and my application iiled Dec. 30, 1909, No. 535,672. The object of the invention is, first, the provision oi a' simple cushioning and spring means which may be used with various kinds of supplemental attachments to constitute a complete door controller, and, secondly, the provision of specic supplemental attachments for use in connection with the said cushioning vand spring means which will permit of the use of a very light hollow metallic cylinder or tube, thus reducing the irst Cost of the entire device, and, further, the provision of such supplen'iental attachments in connection with the cushioningand spring means which, when suitably disposed relative to a `door and casing, will not onlyT close and cushion the door.l but also hold the door open when it has been moved through a pre* determined arc of a circle. However, the supplemental attachments may be so disposed that the door will not be held open.

The invention consists, first., in combining with armetallic tube or hollow cylinder a piston, hollow piston rod, and a coiled or helical spring located within the piston rod and attached directly or mediately at one end to or near the bottom of the tube or hollow cylinder and at the other end to the piston rod, so that when the piston and rod are moved relative to the tube or hollow cylinder the spring will be expanded and act by contr ctile energy to return the piston and rod-to their normal positions; anc., secondly, in certain novelties of construction and combinations of parts with the cushioning and spring means, such as the closing means for the ends of the tube and hollow piston red, means for pivoting the saine to a door and casing, and means for varying the tension of the spring, as herein set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an example ci! theeinbodiment of the cushiontive positions taken by theparts of the controller of F iO. 2 when the door has been opened through an arc of about 90.

F ig. 4 shows the so-called adjustable pull or supplemental rod partly in section. l

lF ig. 5 shows in plan view the controller applied to a door and casing, the supplemental rod being attached to the door and the cushioning and spring means attached to the casing above the door. l Fig. 6 shows .means for adjusting the tension 'of the spring.

` The cushioning and spring means comprises a metallic element, L s a tube or hollow cylinder A, having an opening therein circular in cross section.; a base B, secured in or on or brazed into the end of the tube, provided with a threaded opening @and a threaded vent opening .D within which is an adjustable screw E with part of the shank cut away so thatthe opening for 'the passage of air may be varied in size and the cushioning resistance correspondingly varied; a threaded spring base anchor Fv iitting the opening C, and having a head G with an opening H, and an eye J at the end et the shank; a head K with an opening for the piston rod, preferably screwed in or'on the tube so as to be removable, buty it may be brazed in or on the tube; a hollow piston rod L preferably eXteriorly threaded at one end to receive a disk nut ld and a clamping l in the hollow piston rod and having its opposite ends detachably secured to the eyes J, J of the anchors F and F F by means of hooked extensions of the wire or rod from which the spring is made or by Suitable mediate means.

Then the parts are combined as shown by Fig. l and the hollow piston rod is pulled out air in the tube in front of the piston escapes around the piston rod at S and past the piston at T, and air enters back of the piston by way of the vent opening D. The spring is at the saine time expanded. When the piston vand piston rod are released the contractile energy of the spring returns them to their normal positions, air escaping back of the piston by way of the vent opening D. The degree of cushioning obviously will depend upon the size of the opening through the vent D which can be varied by the screw E. In assembling the parts the spring should be under tension when the piston is seated within the tube. The detachable anchors F and FF allow the substitution or repair of the spring without the withdrawal of the piston and piston rod from the tube or hollow cylinder.

The tension of the spring may be varied by attaching the end of the spring R to a threaded bolt V and threaded nut W and fastening the end of the bolt to the anchor F F, Fig. 6.

Fig. l shows the hollow cylinder or tube provided with a channel l near the end,

wider than the width of the piston and pack# in@ g, constituting a Vby-pass for the iiuid or air when the packing occupies a position between the ends oi"- the channel. l/Vhen the Vpiston in traveling to its seat at a relatively and raise the latch or force back the bolt of the door and cause the door to reach the limit of its closing travel. ln some instances I have found the presence or this arrangement desirable, especially where the bolt is actuated by a strong spring.

The cushioning and spring means or device substantially as described can be used in combination with different types or kinds of supplemental attachments and also with such specific attachments as are shown by the drawings.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4; the cushioning and spring means isshown combined with the following attachments: A base piece 1, with bearings 2 and 3, secured to the door near its top edge, and the base may be in two parts, ifdesired; a bearing 4l, with an opening on the casing;v a so-called adjustable pull or supplemental rod 5 comprised oi a tube G with an eye 7 seated therein at one end and interiorly threaded at the other end, and a rod 8 threaded at one end and bent at the other end to forni a journal 9 inovably supported within the opening of bearing 4, as shown by Fig. Il; a guide and holding rod 10 havingits ends bent at right angles to form journals 11 and 12, the journal 11 being located in bearing 3 and the journal '12 be` ing passed through the eye 7 and opening H in anchor F F and secured by a cap nut 13, as shown; and a shaft 1li, one end seated in bearing` 2 and the other end passed through the opening` in the base spring anchor F and secured by a cap nut 15, shown at the left in Fig. 1.

On reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that Y the guide and holding rod 10 is disposed at an angle to the cushioning and spring means. When the door is opened the rod will rotate in the bearing el on the casing and act-nate the ouide and holdinfr rod and cushioning and spring means so they will turn and approach the saine plane, and that a slight further movement of the door will cause the parts to occupy the relative posi.- tions shown by 3, where the guide and holding rod and the cushioning and spring means are on a dead center and the door held open.

By changing the points of attachment of the controlling device on the door and casing the position in which the door will be held open may be varied. Fig. 8 shows the door held open when it has turned through an arc of approximately 900. A slight turn of the door toward the left will allow the spring to act and close the door, the cuslr ioning means performing its function as the door closes.

In Fig. the cushioning and spring means andthe guide and holding rod are shown secured to the casing 20 and tho supplemental rod journaled to the door 2l which i turns on'the hinges Q2. rEhe inode ot operation is here substantially' the saine as in the particular application before described. for as the door is opened the rod 5 will pull the cushioning and spring means and the guide and holding rod about their bearings until they lie in different or substantially the same planes or reach a dead center.

In applying the controller the relative distances apart oithe bearings on the door and casing` may be varied and the relative proportions of the several parts and elements changed without constituting substantial departures. Y

`What l claim is:

,1. The combination in a door closer and eiieck, and with a door and casing, of two hollow telescopic body members, the inner one having an extension outside the other ier attachment; a contractile coiled spring arranged within and connected with each of lll() said members so as normally to hold them together; means for checking and retarding the speed of the telescopic movement of one member relative to the other when the members moved apart and the spring expanded are being drawn together by the contractile energy of the spring; and means for connecting the members in operative position to the door and door frame or casing so as to check and retard the movement of the door while closing.

2. The combination in a door closer anc check, and with a door and casing, of two hollow telescopic body members, the remote ends and sides being substantially closed to form an air chamber of variable capacity the inner member having an extension for attachment; a contractile coiled spring within and connected to the members and normally holding them together; and means for connecting the said members to the door and door frame or casing; the said members being so Jashioned and combined that air can pass to the air chamber when the members are telescoping apart and the spring expanding but shall be checked and retarded in its passage or flow from the chamber when the members are telescoping together and the door closing'by the contractile energy of the spring.

3. The combination in a door closer and check, and with a door and casing, of outer and inner hollow telescopic body members the inner member having an extension beyond the other adapting it for attachment; means forming` in connection with the members a substantially closed variable air chamber; a contractile coiled spring within and connected to said members and normally holding them together; and means for connecting` the members with the door and door :trame or casing; said members and means beingk so constructed and combined as to allow a variation of the quantity of air in the chamber, permitting its quite free iiow in one direction but retarding its flow in the opposite direction to secure a. checkT ing effect in opposition to the action ot the contractile energy of the spring` when the members telescope together.

4. The combination in a door closer and check, and with a door and casing, of two telescopic hollow body members the inner one having an extension for attachment; a coiled spring arranged within and connected with each of said membersl to hold them together by its contractile energy; and means for connecting said members to the door and door frame or casing; said combined body members being constructed and united to form a suitable air chamber of variable capacity to which air can pass when the members are drawn apart andthe spring expanded, and said combined body. members being provided with an opening of f check, and with a door and casing, oit

suitable limited area for the restricting or checking of the passage or flow of from said air chamber when the members are rela-tively moved together by theycontractile energy of the spring y'and the capacity or the air chamber decreases, and whereby the speed of the telescopic movementfot one member relative to the other is retarded.

The subject-matter of claim 4f, with the `addition of adjustable valve mechanism for varying` the size of the opening from the air chamber. v f f G. The combination in a door closer and check, and with a door and casing, of two hollow telescopic body members the inner one having4 an extension beyond the other for attachment; a coiled spring-within secured to the opposite members and when the spring is contracted holding them inL f normal relative'positions; means in connection with the outer and inner members forming a substantially closed air chamber; means for discharging air from the chainber when the members telescopevand expand the spring; means for the restricted admis sion of air to said chamberwhen the meinbers telescope reversely under the contractile energy of the spring; and means for attaching said members in operative kposition to the door and door casing.

7. The combination` in a dool` closer and check, and with a door and casing` of two telescopic tubular bodymembers the outer one having one end andv its body substantially closed, the inner one having an eXtension beyond the other, said members being fashioned and kcombined to form ya variable air chamber; a contractile helical spring having` its ends secured to the opposite members and its axis in line with the axes of the body members and when contracted holding the members together; means for the admis sion of air to the chamber; means for restricting and retardin'g the discharge of air from said chan'iber to retard the inwardly telescopic movement; and means for connecting said members vwith the door and door casing. Y

8. The combination in a door closer y two telescopic body members'theouter onehaving a closed head and the inner one having an extension beyond the 4open end of the outer member for attachment; means inconnection vwith said members forming a substantially closedk air chamber of varying capacity; a contractile :coiled springy having its ends secured to the opposite members and its aXis in line with the 'aXes oi the body members and them together; an adjustable valve for controlling the passage of air out of saidair chamber when one member is telescoped inwardly toward the otherby the contractile enero' of the s rin and means for conwhen contracted lholding and ll 5 c necting said members to the door and casing.v

9. In combination with a door and casing, adoor closer and check including tubular body members telescopically mounted one within the other, the inner one having au extension outside the other, heads closing the outer ends of said body members to form a substantially closed air chamber, a spring within and connecting the said members, means for admitting air between the members, meanscontrolling and retarding the passage of air out of the air chamber formed by the body members and heads to secure a cushioning effect, and kmeans for engaging the members and connectingthem with the door and casing.

10. In combination with a door and door casing, a door check including tubular bodj,v members telescopically mounted one within the other, heads closing the outer ends ot the body members, a spring within connecting said members, an air valve in connection with 'one of the members, an annular packing at the inner end of the inner body men ber, and means for attaching the body members to the door and door casing.

11. In combination with a door and casing, a door check including tubular telescopic membersunited and forming a substantially closed variable fluid chamber the inner member having an extension for attachment, a helical spring within and counecting the said members and when normally under slight tension holding the members together, means for allowing the passage of fluid to the chamber when the members are drawn apart, means for varying the amount of fluid discharged from the chamber in a given time when the members telescope together to secure a retarding or checking effect, and means 'for attaching both members to the door and casing.

12. The combination in a door closer and check, and with a door and casing, of inner and outer hollow telescoping members, the inner one having an extension beyond the other, providing a variable fluid chamber, a spring within and connecting the members and under slight tension normally to hold them together, means for forming a tight joint between the members when they are telescoping together and for the passage of fluid to the chamber from the Vspace-back of the chamber when the members are drawn apart, means for the restricted discharge of fluid from the chamber to secure a retarding effect, and means for the attachment of the members to the door and casing.

13. The combination in a door closer and check, and with a door and casing, of telescopic inner and outer members to form a variable fluid chamber the inner member having an extension outside the other for attachment; a contractiley helical spring within and its opposite ends connected respectively to the opposite members and normally holding` them together; a piston to form a joint between the members; means for admitting fluid to one side of the said piston and expelling fluid from the other side thereof when the members are being drawn apart and also when they are telescoping together under the contractile energy of the spring to secure a retarding effeet; and means for connecting said members to the door and casing.

14. In combination with a door and door casing, a ldoor closer and check including telescoping inner and outer tubular body members closed at their outer ends and sides to provide a variable air chamber, a valve controlling the passage of air out of said chamber, a spring within the members and connecting the inner and outer members normally to hold the two together, and means for attaching the members to the door. and door casing.

15. In combination with a door and casing,ea door closer and check including telescopic inner and outer tubular body members substantially closed at their sides and ends means between said members to make a substantially tight joint and with the body members forming an air chamber of variable capacity, a contractile coiled spring within the said members and its ends connected with the inner and out-er members, a valve device for controlling the dis'harge of air from the chamber, and means for connecting the members in operative position to the door and casing.

16. The combination in a door closer and check, and-with a door and casing, of two tubes telescopically united with their remote ends and bodies substantially closed to form an inclosed air chamber of variable capacity; a contractile coiled spring within the tubes with its ends secured to the tubes and normally holding` them together; and means for attaching said tubes to the door and casing; the end of one of said tubes having a removable head to provide for attaching the spring, and said tubes designed, constructed and united to allow air to pass to the chamber when the tubes telescope apart and to restrict its flow from the chamber when the tubes are. telescoping together under the contractile energy of the spring` whereby a cushioning and retarding result is secured.

17. The combination of' telescoping inner and outer members to provide a variable fluid chamber, a contractile spring within uniting said members and when under tension normallyholding them together. means for admittingfluid to and gradually discharging fluid from the chamber, and means for pivotally attaching the members to a door and casing including a guide rod, a

supplemental rod and suitable attaching means for said rods and one of the members; the supplemental rod being adapted, when the device is attached to a door and casing` and while the door is being opened, to turn the members and the guide rod on their pivots and draw the members apart and expand the spring.

18. The combination in a door closer and check, and with a door and casing, of two hollow body members lone extended outside of and reciprocable within the other to form a fluid chamber of variable capacity, means for restricting the flow of uid from the chamber, a contractile coiled spring within the members one end whereof is secured t-o the end of one of the members, a bolt carried by the opposite remote end of the other member, an element adjustable upon said bolt to which element the other end of the spring is connected whereby the tensi-on or' the spring can be regulated, and means for connecting said members to the door and casing.

ment and carrying a piston with a cens tral opening therethrough, a substantially closed variable Huid chamber in connection with said members7 means for allowing a variation of the quantity of fluid in the chamber, a contractile coiled spring under tension within and loosely passing through the central opening in the piston one end thereof being attached to the outer member and the opposite end secured to the inner member, and means for attaching the 'said members in operative position to the door and casing.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' EDWARD S. COFFMAN. Witnesses:

C. M. FoRREs'r, M. E. BOTELER. 

